On March 17, 2025, the National Science Centre (NCN) opened the call for proposals for the OPUS 29 and PRELUDIUM 24, supporting research projects in the field of basic research conducted by scientists at various career stages. The total budget for both competitions is PLN 600 million. Project topics can be freely chosen within the 26 NCN panels; however, the planned research must fall within the scope of basic research – empirical or theoretical work primarily aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without a direct commercial application.
There are no preliminary criteria regarding academic degrees or career advancement, meaning even individuals without a PhD can apply. The project leader must have at least one published or accepted-for-publication scientific paper. While there is no budget limit for individual projects, the proposed costs must be justified by the project’s subject and scope. The budget may include expenses such as salaries for the project leader and team members (including post-doc positions), scholarships, the purchase of scientific equipment, devices, software, materials, and small tools, external services, business trips, visits, consultations, and other costs essential for project implementation.
